Heat exchanger



Aug. 17, 1937. J. A. cOY

HEAT EXCHANGER Filed sept. 25. 193e INVENTOR ?atented ug. VJi7, 193709ans UNITED .STATES PATENT, OFFICE naar examinons,

Joseph A. Coy, Tulsa, kla. Application september 23, 1936, serial Ne.v102,233 'z claims. (c1. 25a-24s) The invention relates to heatexchanges, particularly of the type which is moved from place to place,and wherein the units .are relatively long, and has for its object toprovide the heat exchanger with a floating head and floating supportmeans for the tubes slidably connected to the side channels of the framein a mannerl whereby when the heat exchange unit is hoisted,

Aguanti contraction, incident to temperature, but

preventing outward spreading of the channels.

A further object is to form the support from spaced bars b etween whichthe tubes are disposed and to connect the bars at their ends so thatthey V will slidably move within theframe channels, andv to provideU-shaped brackets, arching the chanbeing understood that changes-in theprecise em bodiment of the invention may be made within y the scope ofwhat lis claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the heat exchange j unit. Figure Z'is aside elevation of the unit. Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectionalview 5 through the unit, and through a modified sup port.

l Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view through one side ofthe unit showing the form of slidable connection between the tubesupport and the channel shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevation of thev central portion of theunit showing the support connection shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of one end.

of the modified form 0f tube support shown in Figure 3 showing itsconnection to one of the channels.

Referring tothe drawing, the numeral I desighates the stationary head ofthe heat exchanger,

' to the ends of which are connected in the usual manner, by meansofbolts 2, the side channel bars 3 of the Aunit. Connected to thestationary head I is a plurality of tubes 4, which are relatively long,and which are parallel. The tubes 4 extend longitudinally of the deviceand are connected to a floating head 5 which allows the tubes 4 toexpand and contract under heat and cold as shown in dotted lines inFigure 1. Devices of this character are usually extremely long,particularly'where used in the oil industry and are subject to a greatdeal of handling. It has been found that in hoisting devices of thischaracter, which weigh several tons per unit, if hoisted by one of thechannels 3, they become bent or distorted, and to obviatethis dimcultythe tubes 4 are provided with tube supporting members 5a,

through which the tubes extend, and which have their ends slidablyconnected to the side channels 3, so that they may slide duringexpansion and contraction, but at the same time prevent spreading of thevchannels during a hoisting operation and distribute the hoisting strainthroughout the unit during the edge hoisting thereof. The number of tubesuports 5a may4 vary, however two -are shown for purposes ofillustration, and one will be described in detail. Y

- Referring tothe form of device shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5, in thisform the tubes 4 are clamped between fibrous members 6, preferablyformed of woo-d and the fibrous members 6 are disposed between spacedbars l, which are drawn together against the fibrous bars 6 by bolts 8for clamping the support as a whole on. the tubes so the support willmove with the tubes upon expansion and contraction, therebyobviating-the wear on the tubes incident to scale formed thereon and thetubes dragging through the support.

The ends of the clamping bars 1 terminate in guide portions 9,connecting the bars at their ends, and which guide portions are disposedwithin the channels 3L The guide portions 9 are slidably connected tothe channels 3 by cap bolts l0, which extend loosely through elongatedapertures Il4 in the channels 3, therefore it will be seen that as thetubes 4 contract and expand, the supports 5abodily move with the tubesand that the sliding engagement of the ends of the supports within thechannels, will allow freedom 1 of movement of the supports, however thecap bolts Il) will positively prevent spreading of the difficulty isovercome.

2 i .l I K will distribute the strain throughout the unit.'

Referring to the form of device shownin Figures 3 and 6; in this formthe upper and lower bars I have connected thereto the arms I2 ofU-shaped brackets I3 which arch the outer vsides of the channels I andallow freedom of longitudinal movement of the tube support duringexpansion and contraction and prevent spreading of the channels I duringa hoisting operation. The U-shaped brackets I3 are connected to the barsI by meansof bolts Il which extend through the arms I2, bars I andclamping strips i. When the bolts Il are tightened the tubes are clampedwithin the support. The arms I 2 are additionally anchored to the upperand lower bars 1 by means of bolts I 5, which prevent side pivotins anddisplacement of the brackets I3. Spacers I8 are preferably used tolspace the arms 'I2 upwardly out of engagement with the side channels 3.It will be noted that in both forms play is provided between theslidably engagedA parts, which prevents sticking, incident to expansion,and allows easy movement of the parts.

The upper and lower bars 1 are preferably pro-l vided with tlanges 1a,which brace and stiffe'n the same, and the channels I may .be-braced bytransversely extending angle bars I1 bolted thereto. .'Ihe heads I and lare provided with the jusual'fisnged connections Il whereby the heatThis has been found to be true even where the tubes are slidablymountedin oversize apertures of wooden blocks, hence it will be seen byclamping the support to the tubes and' allowing the support to bodilymove with the tubes, the above Rrom the above it will be seen that aheat exchange unit is provided wherein the tubes are supported so theywill not wear during expansion and contraction and that the supportingmeans v-fo'r theQtubes will also brace the unit frame so that it may;hehoisted by its side without bend- V l ing the side bars and in a mannerwhereby the strain will be distributed throllhilt the unit.

This is o! decided advantage in the 'oil industry where units aretransportedfrom piace to place and assembled, and this necessarily `instationary head carried by said frame, a floating l head carried by saidframe, tubes connecting said heads and adapted to move the floatingheadupon expansion and contraction and a slidable connection between thefloating head and the frame,

'9,090,345 channels during a hoisting operation when the i device issuspended from one of the channels andy said sliding connectioncomprising headed members extending through elongated apertures in theframe. v

2; The combination with a heat exchange unit comprising a frame havingside bars, a stationary head connecting the side bars at one endthereof, and a oating head connecting the side bars at the opposite endthereof, tubes connecting said heads of a tube `support slidablyconnected to the side bars, said. tube support beiliii' clamped onthetubes to move with the expansionl and contraction of the tube wherebythe slidable engagement of the support will be with the side bars.

3. The` combination with a heat exchange unit comprising side channelbars having their channels inwardly disposed, a stationary headconnecting said bars adjacent one end thereof, and a floating headconnecting said bars adjacent the other end thereof, of a stationarytube support intermediate the heads, and tubes connecting" the heads andextending through the support.'

said support being clamped on the tubes and movable therewith, the endsof said support having slidable engagement within the channels of thechannel bars.

4. The combination with a heat exchange unit comprising side channelbars having inwardly disposed channels, heads carried by said channelbars and connecting the same, slidable connections between 'one of lsaidheads and vthe channel bars whereby the said head and bars may moverelative to each other, and tubes connecting said heads, of a supportfor said tubes,

said support comprising spaced bars between which the tubes extend,gripping members between the bars adapted to grip the tubes, means forforcing said bars towards each other and slidable connections betweenthe ends of the bars and the channels.

5. A deviceas set forth in claim 4 in which the slidable connectionsinclude headed members carried by the vends of the support bars andextending'through elongated apertures in the channel bars, and forming`a sliding anchored-connection between the support and the channel bars.

6.'A device as set forth in claim 4 in which the slidable'connectionsinclude straps carried by the ends of the support and arching theouterside of the channel 4bars and forming means for preventingspreading of the channel bars.

. 7.-The combination with a heat exchange unit having a floating headand a stationary head connecting side channel bars, o f tubes connectingthe heads, supports for said tubes. comprising flexible bars andgrippingmembers between the bars and between which theD tubes extend.

and means'for forcing said barstowards other fora tube grippingoperation, whereby the support' as Aa whole will bodily move with theoperating with the channel bars for spreading oi' the channel bars.

.roem s. cor.

preventing .es

